Every year from August 2nd to August 7th, the center of Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, is filled with giant lanterns. Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (Aomori Nebuta Matsuri) is one of the largest summer festivals in the Tohoku region, with approximately 20 large Nebuta floats measuring 5 meters high, 9 meters wide, and 7 meters deep running around the city. Approximately 2.8 million people visit the festival each year, and it was designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property in 1980.
🏮 ねぶたの構造と制作
A Nebuta is a huge lantern with a frame made of wood and wire, covered with Japanese paper, and a light inside. The themes are taken from Kabuki, Japanese mythology, Chinese folklore, etc., and warriors, demons, dragons, etc. are depicted in heroic forms.
The person responsible for the production is a specialized craftsman called a ``Nebuta-shi.'' It takes about three months to complete one Nebuta, and the production cost is estimated to range from several million yen to more than 20 million yen. There are more than a dozen Nebuta masters in Aomori City, and each one of them creates pieces upon request from different sponsors (companies and organizations). Since new Nebuta are created every year, the same Nebuta is rarely operated two years in a row.
Currently, LED and fluorescent lights are used inside the nebuta, but in the past, candles were used. The richly colored human figures that emerge through the washi paper, illuminated from the inside, give a completely different impression when viewed during the day than at night.
Viewing points
- Operating schedule:From August 2nd to 3rd, children's Nebuta and large Nebuta will be operated jointly (from around 19:10 to 21:00). A large nebuta float will be in operation from August 4th to 6th (around 19:10 to 21:00). On August 7th, after the daytime service (around 13:00-15:00), a fireworks display and Nebuta Marine service will be held at Aomori Port in the evening.
- Jumper (Haneto):The dancers who jump around the Nebuta festival chanting "Rassera, Rassela" are called "Haneto". Tourists are free to participate as long as they wear the official costumes (hanagasa, yukata, sash, and belt with a bell called gagashiko). Costumes can be rented (approximately 4,000 to 5,000 yen).
- Paid seats:Paid viewing seats will be provided along the route. All seats are reserved and will be sold in advance on the Aomori Nebuta Festival Executive Committee website. Sales start from late June every year.
- access:It is about a 10 minute walk from JR Aomori Station to the operating route. From Tokyo, it takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes to get to Shin-Aomori Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, and about 6 minutes from Shin-Aomori Station to Aomori Station on the JR Ou Main Line. During the festival, hotels in Aomori City fill up quickly, so some people stay in Hirosaki City or Hachinohe City and commute by train.
💡 ねぶたの起源と「ねぶた」「ねぷた」の違い
There are various theories about the origin of the Nebuta Festival. There are multiple origins, including a theory that the Tanabata lantern float has changed, and a legend that Sakanoue no Tamuramaro used a large lantern to lure out enemies during the Ezo conquest, but there are no definitive historical sources.
There are two names in Aomori Prefecture: ``Nebuta'' and ``Neputa.'' Aomori City's festival is called ``Nebuta,'' and Hirosaki City's festival is called ``Neputa.'' Hirosaki Nebuta is characterized by its fan-shaped lanterns, which is different from the three-dimensional doll-shaped lanterns of Aomori Nebuta. It is also possible to create an itinerary that compares both, and the Hirosaki Neputa Festival will be held from August 1st to August 7th.
On the final day of the festival, August 7th, after a daytime operation, the award-winning Nebuta will be loaded onto a barge and sailed on the sea at Aomori Port. At the same time, fireworks are launched, and the sight of the sea, fireworks, and Nebuta coming together is something special that can only be seen on this day.